A protein interactome for the last eukaryotic common ancestor illuminates the biochemical basis of modern genetic diseases.

A reconstructed protein interactome from LECA reveals ancient systems linked to modern genetic diseases, including novel associations for bone density and birth defects.

• Why it matters: Understanding the molecular basis of eukaryotic evolution helps clarify the origins of genetic diseases and traits seen today, filling gaps in knowledge about ancient cellular systems.
• What they did: The study analyzed gene families across 156 organisms and integrated over 26,000 proteomics datasets from 31 species to identify and model ancient protein complexes.
• The result: This work uncovers both known and new protein assemblies from LECA, enabling the discovery of previously unrecognized gene-disease links and advancing insights into human genetic disorders.